Grave construction.



No. 872,241. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

W. LIVINGSTON.

GRAVE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 12. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTO/i' ATTORNEYS H0 872,241. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

W. LIVINGSTON.

GRAVE CONSTRUCTION. nruoynon FIL'ED .mmnz. 1901.

2 SHEETS-BHEI1T 2.

W/TNESSES INVENTOH W 'vz'fzysfon B) '7 r ATTORNEYS WALTER LIVINGSTON, OFHASTINGS, NEBRASKA.

GRAVE CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed June 12. 1907. Serial No. 378,485.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER LIVINGSTON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Hastings, in the county of Adams and State ofNebraska, have invented a new and Improved Grave Construction, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to grave construction, and more particularly tothat class of grave constructions in which a solid slab is used as thegrave top.

The object of the invention is to provide a strong, durable and handsomegrave construction which can be ap lied to already completed graves, andwho provides a top comprising a solid slab of cement or concrete.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grave constructioncomprising a chamber or vault of masonry, cement or concrete, having anupper arch supporting the grave top, which is of cement or concrete.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a graveconstruction having a su porting arch with the crown substantial y flushwith the surface of the ground, and suitably supported on the arch agrave top consisting of a solid slab of cement, concrete or the like.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more particularly described hereinafter, and fully pointed out in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which I Figure 1 is aperspective view of a grave showing my construction applied thereto;Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a mold used in the construction of apart of the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a completedgrave, showing a art in transverse section; and Fig. 4 is a similar viewof a modified form of construction applied to a grave already completed.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, itshould be understood that it is' not always desirable to places. casketin an ordinary earth grave, and for this reason the grave is often lined,with masonry or concrete and is covered over with a top consisting ofan arch or a slab of stone or the like. The advantages of a graveof'this construction are evident; for instance,

is impossible.

the entrance of water into the grave with the consequent settling of thelatter is obviated. Furthermore, this construction renders grave robberydillicult and not to be accomplished without leaving traces of therobbery. In addition, the penetration into the grave of animals orvermin often found in cemeteries In my construction, if desired thegrave may be lined with masonry or concrete and provided with an archsupporting a solid slab of cement or concrete which projects above theground and serves either as a foot-marker or as a tomb-stone ormonument.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in the form of constructionshown in Fig. 3, 1 represents the base or floor at the bottom of thegrave, of concrete or masonry; 2 are the walls resting upon the floor 1and having at the upper ends, supports 3 of similar material andpresenting inclined faces to support an arch 4 of concrete or masonry.The arrangement is such that the crown of the arch is substantiallyflush with the surface of the ground. The casket 5 is arranged in theusual manner, within the vault formed by the walls and arch of theconstruction. Supported by the arch 4 and resting upon the crown of thelatter is a solid slab 6 pro'ecting above the ground. The slab 6 may beformed of cement, concrete or any other similar and suitable material.Between the under side of the slab 6 and the haunches of the arch aresupports or fillers 7 which are preferably of the same material as theslab. The slab 6 may be of any suitable form but I prefer to provide thesides and ends with a bevel, and to round the edges.

Marking figures of any kind, for instance, such as 8 and 9 shown in Fig.1, may be applied to the slab. A simple method of forming these markingfigures is by impressing suitable forms into the cement or concretebefore the latter has set and hardened; if so desired, the markingfigures or letters may consist of metal, such as white bronze, and canbe secured upon the slab by means of suitable projections or fingersforced into the cement or concrete before the same has set.

In Fig. 2 is shown a mold for the formation of the slab. The mold, whichmay be of metal or wood, or any other suitable material, has inclinedsides 10 and end 1 1 for beveling the corresponding sides an ends of theslab, and has the inner edges 12 rounded, in order correspondingly toround the upper edges of the slab. The top 13 of the mold is open, andthe top of the slab can be finished by hand through the opening, whileat the same time the marking figures can be fashioned upon the slabthrough the opening.

In Fig.4 is shown a modified form of my grave, construction, which canbe applied to a grave already completed. 1 4 represents the grave filledin with earth 15 in the usual manner, the earth resting upon andpartially surrounding the casket 16. In applying my .construction tothis grave, the earth is removed to a certain depth from the surface anda masonry or concrete arch 1? is placed struction and no dliference inappearance between the completed forms shown in Figs] 3 and 4, so it ispossible, to have graves already completed and graves made subsequently,

quite uniform inappearance, by means of myconstruction. While anymaterial suitable for the purpose can be used, I prefer to employmasonry or concrete for the vaultco'nstruction of the graveandthearch,'and to use cement or concrete for the grave top formed bythe solid slab. The supports or fillers 7 may be separate from orintegral with the slab. The under side of the slab irithe lattercase,'or the under sides of the su ports, must be curved to conform tot' e.

extrados curve of the arch.

When myvault' construction is employed the vault is completed up to thearch and is then ready for the reception of the casket;

when the latter is in position the arch and the grave top are built u onthe vault and the grave is finished, hen the arch and top alone areusedthe grave is dug in the usual way, the casket is placed therein and thegrave filled into the proper depth for the construction of the arch,with the crown substantially flush with the surface of the. ground. Thegrave top is then built up upon the arch in theusual manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new-anddesire to secureby'Letters Patent I -1. In a grave construction, a top supporting memberarranged in the earth above the grave, with the u per-surfacesubstantially ush with the su ace of the ground, and a grave topconsisting of a slab arranged upon said supporting member.

2. In agrave construction, a top sup'porting member'embedded in theearth above the grave and having the upper surface substantially flushwith the surface of the earth, and I a grave top arranged upon saidsupporting member and comprising a solid slab of ce ment or concrete.

3. In a grave construction, an arch embedded in the earth a'bovethe raveand having the crown substantially ush with the surface of the earth,and a slab constituting a grave top resting upon said arch.

4. In a grave construction, an arch embedded in the ea rth above thegrave a 11d having the crown substantially flush wlth the surface of theearth, and a slab constituting a grave top resting upon said arch, saidslab having the under side curved to con form to the extrados curve ofthe arch.

5, In a bedded in the earth above the grave and, having the crownsubstantially flush with the surface-of the earth, a slab. constitutinga" grave top and resting upon the crown of said arch, and supportinmembers between the haunches of said arc and said slab.

6. In a rave construction, an arch em-I bedded in t e earth. above therave and having the crown substantially ush with the surface oftheearth, a slab constituting a grave top jand'res'ting upon the crownof said grave construction, an arch emy arch, and supports between thehaunches of" said arch-and said slab, said supports being substantiallywed e-shaped and having the under sides curved to conform to the extra-.dos curve of the arch.

7. In a grave construction, an arch embeddedin the earth above the raveand having the crown'substantially ush with the surface of the earth,and a slab constituting having the underside curved to conform to theextrados curve of the arch; s'aidjslab further having and the edgesrounded.

' 8. Ina rave construction, an arch embedded in t e earth above the aveand having the crownsubstantially ushwith the surface of the earth, aslab constituting a".

grave top and resting upon the crown of said arch, and supports betweenthe haunches. of

said arch and said slab, said supports being substantially wedge-shapedand havingv the under sides curved to conform to'the exa grave topresting upon said arch, said slab the sides and endsabeveled .f iiii-Etrados curve of the arch,'said slabs having ronn'ded. v

:91.A grave construction, comprising 'a vault having a floor, sides andends, an arch covering said vault and having the [crown substantiallyflush with the surface of the' earth, and a grave top comprising a solidslab of (iament or concrete and. supported bv said are the sides andendsbevele'd and the edges" 10. Agravescons'truction, comprising avault-having a floor, sides and ends, an-arch covering saidi vault andhaving the crown substantially (flush with the surface of the 61,; gravetop comprising a solid slab of,

cement, supported by said arch and extendnig above the surface of theearth, and sup- 'ports between the under side of said slab and thehaunches of said arch.

.11. A ave construction, comprising a vault hav a floor, sides and ends,an arch covering sald vault and having the'crown substantially flushwith the surface of the earth, a grave top comprising a solid slabresting, upon said arch and having the under In testimony whereo I havesigned my 15 name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WALTER LIVINGSTON.

Witnesses:

, ALBERT E. LIVINGSTON, I J. A. GARDINER.

